Lift-off cover assembly for a barge

Abstract

A lift-off cover assembly for barges includes adjacently positioned curved cover sections and end cover sections located at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned curved cover sections. The cover assembly includes a central walkway which extends between openings on the cover assembly and climbing stairs which are positioned so as to facilitate the travel of a cargo loading operated toward the openings. Additionally, each of openings can include cover members such as lids or doors which have handles or latches that are accessible from the central walkway.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A cover assembly for a barge comprising: at least one curved cover section having a width which extends over a width of a barge;   a first opening located on a first side of a central longitudinal axis of said at least one curved cover section;   a second opening located on a second side of the central longitudinal axis of said at least one curved cover section;   a first cover member for closing said first opening;   a second cover member for closing said second opening;   the said cover assembly further comprising a plurality of said curved cover sections which may be positioned adjacent to each other; and   first and second curved end cover sections positioned on opposite ends of said curved cover sections which may be adjacently positioned, wherein said central longitudinal axis extends through said curved cover sections and said first and second curved end cover sections;   wherein each of said first and second curved end cover sections comprises end section openings positioned on each side of the central longitudinal axis and end section cover members for closing said end section openings,   wherein each of said end section cover members comprise end section handle members associated with said end section cover members for moving said end section cover members between at least a closed position in which the associated end section opening is closed and an open position in which the associated end section opening is opened, and   wherein each of said first and second cover members and said end section cover members comprise integral raised portions, such that in the opened position of said first and second cover members and said end section cover members, said raised portions abutt against said ribs.   
     
     
       2. A cover assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a first handle member associated with said first cover member for moving the first cover member between at least a closed position in which said first opening is closed and an opened position in which said first opening is opened, said first handle member extending toward the central longitudinal axis of said at least one curved cover section; and   a second handle member associated with said second cover member for moving the second cover member between at least a closed position in which the second opening is closed and an open position in which the second opening is opened, said second handle member extending toward the central longitudinal axis of said at least one curved cover section.   
     
     
       3. A cover assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a central walkway which extends along the central longitudinal axis of said at least one curved cover section and between the first and second openings, wherein said first and second handle members are accessible from said central walkway so as to permit an opening and closing of said first and second cover members from said central walkway. 
     
     
       4. A cover assembly according to claim 3, wherein said central walkway comprises a non-skid surface. 
     
     
       5. A cover assembly according to claim 3, further comprising: first climbing stairs located on the second side of said at least one curved cover section and extending from an edge of said at least one curved cover section at the second side toward the central longitudinal axis, said first climbing stairs and said first opening being positioned substantially within a same first vertical plane; and   second climbing stairs located on the first side of said at least one curved cover section and extending from an edge of said first side toward the central longitudinal axis, said second climbing stairs and said second opening being located substantially within a same second vertical plane.   
     
     
       6. A cover assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first and second climbing stairs extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       7. A cover assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first and second climbing stairs comprise non-skid surfaces. 
     
     
       8. A cover assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first and second climbing stairs respectively define first and second paths which lead to said central walkway. 
     
     
       9. A cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second curved end cover sections comprise end section climbing stairs which extend along the central longitudinal axis to an area between the end section openings. 
     
     
       10. A cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of curved cover sections and said first and second curved end cover sections are made of a fiberglass material. 
     
     
       11. A cover assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a locking assembly associated with each of said first and second cover members and said end section cover members for locking each of said first and second cover members and said end section cover members in the closed position. 
     
     
       12. A cover assembly for a barge comprising: a plurality of adjacently positioned curved cover sections;   first and second end cover sections positioned on opposite end of said adjacently positioned curved cover sections to define a cover assembly which is adapted to fit on a barge so as to define a storage space thereunder;   a plurality of openings positioned on each side of a central longitudinal axis which extends along said adjacently positioned curved cover sections and said first and second end cover sections;   lids associated with each of said openings which cover each of said openings in a closed position of said doors;   a central path extending along the central longitudinal axis, and   a handle on each of said lids which permits a movement of each of said lids from the closed position to an opened position to permit access to the storage space through said openings, wherein each of the handles extend to a vicinity of said central path so as to permit a lifting up of each of the handles from the central path and thereby permit an opening of each of said lids from said central path, and   wherein each of said first and second end cover sections comprises end ribs which extend in a direction of said longitudinal axis and define open spaces.   
     
     
       13. A cover assembly according to claim 12, wherein each of said curved cover sections and said first and second end cover sections comprise ribs which define a plurality of spaces for permitting water drainage. 
     
     
       14. A cover assembly according to claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of first walking stairs which extend in a direction perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis and lead toward an associated one of each of said openings; and   second walking stairs on each of said first and second end cover sections which extend in a direction of the central axis.